chapter 39

Chapter 39: The Self-Harm Strategy.

The sky outside was overcast.

The main palace door was shut, making the interior even dimmer.

The child, being of short stature, slipped in along the edges silently, truly resembling a cat.

For a moment, he stood outside with ears perked, listening to the movement inside, not rushing in immediately.

Inside was Zhong Hong, sounding as though he was crying.

Speaking in a hushed tone, she said, "The prince's leg... The chief physician warned it must be carefully nurtured, or there might be lasting complications in the future, possibly affecting the bone..."

Shen He: "…?"

His chubby face instantly turned very serious. Holding his breath, he crouched in the corner of the outer room, his ears perked up, deciding to listen a bit before entering.

A faint medicinal scent wafted throughout the chamber.

Qi Zhuoyun's voice was utterly calm.

So calm that it was almost indifferent, emotionless, even, "It's fine, there's no cause for concern. I won't attend the morning court today. After applying the medicine, go on my behalf to apologize to the emperor. Inform them that I cannot walk and hope for the emperor's forgiveness."

What?

How did he hurt his leg to the point he can't walk?

Shen He went through his memory but couldn't recall a time when the protagonist had injured his leg.

How could this happen?

Was it because of his butterfly effect?

Unable to contain himself any longer, Shen He, with his short legs, dashed towards the inner chamber, shouting, "Brother! Brother!"

"What happened to your leg? Let me see!"

The child's sudden outburst startled everyone in the room.

As Shen He burst in, he saw Qi Zhuoyun attempting to cover his leg with a blanket.

He scrambled to the edge of the bed, pulling at the blanket, "Let me see! Let me see!"

Qi Zhuoyun: "…" Seeing the little bundle of joy, the indifference he had been exuding melted away, leaving no trace.

It was as if it had never been there to begin with; his expression became tender.

A myriad of emotions flashed in his eyes, settling into a mix of helplessness and amusement, which he suppressed.

He asked softly, "When did you get here, Hehe?"

Only then did Qi Zhuoyun look up, noticing that Zhong Hong had drawn aside the curtain separating the inner and outer rooms, revealing a slight opening at the entrance of the chamber.

The child had squeezed his way through that very gap.

It was evident that the guards outside had probably assisted.

This child is growing more and more cunning, even sneaking in unnoticed.

Shen He wasn't concerned with these details, muttering, "I just got here. Brother, let me have a look."

"Let go and let me see what happened to your leg."

Surely that deranged emperor wouldn't harm his own crown prince, would he?

He tugged with all his might, determinedly wanting to see, and wouldn’t let go easily.

Qi Zhuoyun slightly regretted not being more vigilant and noticing him sneaking in earlier.

Unable to resist Shen He's persistence, Qi Zhuoyun relented, unveiling the covers.

The knee was wrapped in thick medicinal gauze, and up close, the pungent smell was more pronounced.

Fearing he would scare the child, Qi Zhuoyun comforted, "Brother is fine. In a couple of days, it will heal. Do you remember when you were younger? There's a scar on your elbow from an injury you sustained then. Just like that, I've sustained a minor injury. But it will heal quickly, and I'll be as robust as you."

The child lowered his head, his chubby little hands hesitatingly moving to touch the injured leg. After a moment's hesitation, as if fearing he might cause more pain, he settled for blowing air on it instead, puffing his cheeks out and whispering, "Hoo hoo, no pain, no pain."

Any lingering coldness in Qi Zhuoyun's heart melted away with the warmth of the child's breath.

Zhong Hong tidied up the medicine, drawing back the curtain and opening the windows for ventilation, also unsealing the palace doors.

The light from outside illuminated the chamber, making it much brighter.

The palace guard by the door gave Zhong Hong an apologetic look, murmuring, "Eunuch..."

Zhong Hong shook his head, stepping out, gesturing for his junior apprentices and other palace maids and eunuchs to attend to them, while he busied himself with other tasks for the prince.

Inside the chamber.

Light flooded in, brightening the room and revealing the child’s face to Qi Zhuoyun.

His chubby hands gripped the blanket on the bed, leaning forward to inspect the wound on Qi Zhuoyun's knee. His cheeks were puffed, and there was a glistening tear that had somehow formed.

Qi Zhuoyun: "…" He paused for a moment, a jolt in his heart, and quickly scooped the child into his arms, cradling him close.

It seemed the child couldn't hold back any longer, whimpering softly, his big eyes filled with tears and his face flush with emotion, which stood out starkly against his pale complexion.

The more Shen He thought about it, the sadder he became. Struggling to hold back his tears only made them flow faster.

That damned emperor, harming his protagonist like this.

It infuriated him!

It was too much to bear.

Big tears began to roll down, the child turned his face and buried it into Qi Zhuoyun's chest, muffling his sobs, clutching the fabric of Qi Zhuoyun's robe with his tiny hands.

The louder he cried, the more aggrieved he felt.

Yet it was Qi Zhuoyun who was injured, and he who should feel the pain.

Qi Zhuoyun's heart was filled with tender sorrow.

The thin pajamas were quickly soaked by the child's tears, creating a large damp patch that clung to his skin, near his heart, warm to the touch.

The soft cheek of the child also rested near his heart, flushed from crying, transmitting warmth into his chest.

It nearly melted Qi Zhuoyun's heart.

The child's sobbing became so intense he struggled to breathe. Qi Zhuoyun gently patted his back, softly comforting, "Hehe, don't cry. Brother isn't lying. It's just a small matter; in a few days, I'll be alright."

"S-sob... Liar..." The child's voice was muffled, his words broken by sobs and gasps.

He had heard everything. That he wouldn't be able to walk for some time. It seemed unlikely that it would heal in just a few days.

That damn emperor is so heartless, even worse than his own despicable father.

Overwhelmed with emotion, anger fogged his mind.

Qi Zhuoyun helplessly touched the warm nape of the child's neck, letting him cry in his embrace for a while, before reaching to caress his flushed face.

He tilted the child's face upwards, not minding the large damp patch on his chest from the tears. Finding no handkerchief at hand, he simply used his own sleeve to wipe away the child's tears.

The once pristine white sleeve quickly became sodden.

As the child sobbed against him, his face had gone from a pale fluffy softness to a reddish hue, resembling a rosy peach more than a white bun.

After giving it some thought, Qi Zhuoyun dried the child's tears, considering the boy's young age and pride. He let him bury his face back into his embrace before calling for a handkerchief.

The young eunuch handed over the handkerchief and discreetly withdrew, drawing the separating curtains behind him.

With daylight streaming in from outside, everything inside seemed all the brighter.

Qi Zhuoyun wiped the child's runny nose with the handkerchief.

Having vented, Shen He now felt a mix of embarrassment and shame.

It was so humiliating. He had even cried out snot. His dignified image shattered in an instant.

Lifting his head, he let Qi Zhuoyun tend to him obediently.

Finally, with his face cleaned of tears and mucus, the child ceased crying and lowered his head.

With downcast eyes, Qi Zhuoyun could see the child's rounded face, his reddened nose, and the long wet lashes, glistening with tears, quivering slightly with each of the child's breaths.

Holding the child tighter, he lowered his head, whispering gently, "Brother isn't lying to Hehe."

Shen He, head buried, remained silent against the damp fabric of the clothes.

Trust you? Not likely.

Qi Zhuoyun squeezed one of the child's warm chubby hands, his voice dropping to a whisper, almost conspiratorial, as if sharing a secret, "Brother lied to them, not to you."

He whispered, "Brother is telling this only to Hehe, and no one else knows. Hehe won't tell others, right?"

What?

Shen He perked up his ears.

Finally inclined to lift his head, he tilted his little face to gaze at Qi Zhuoyun.

His damp lashes and the misty moisture in his big eyes made him appear utterly pitiable.

Qi Zhuoyun's voice softened further, "Brother said that on purpose, hoping to evoke... evoke the same compassion from our father as Hehe receives from his loved ones when he falls ill."

The child blinked, seemingly pondering.

Qi Zhuoyun had always known the child he raised was intelligent, but he wasn't sure if a four-year-old could truly grasp the intricacies of the situation.

Even if he could, Qi Zhuoyun didn't intend to expose him to such scheming.

He opted for the simplest explanation.

Then, the child raised his chubby hand, caressing Qi Zhuoyun's face, his voice still quivering from crying, comforting, "I care about Brother."

Yes... thought Qi Zhuoyun.

The child he had raised cared for him, cared enough to cry for him.

A smile formed, and he tenderly kissed the child's forehead, "Thank you, Hehe."

Shen He began to slowly grasp the situation.

Though he was still seething with anger, he realized the protagonist's leg injury might not be as severe as portrayed.

He was employing a ruse of self-harm for sympathy.

A ruse is good, as long as it's not genuine.

He leaned against Qi Zhuoyun's chest, glancing toward the other knee.

Qi Zhuoyun cradled him close, sitting sideways, with the bandaged knee within the child's easy reach.

Fearful of causing pain, he realized the knee joint might be sensitive to touch.

The child stretched out, attempting to climb down from Qi Zhuoyun's embrace.

Seeing the child had stopped crying, Qi Zhuoyun didn't restrain him and let him stand by the bed.

Instead of walking away, the child continued to lean against the bed's edge, inspecting the injury.

In such a short span, the brightness in the room had elevated significantly.

Shen He could see the areas where the medicinal gauze failed to cover, revealing patches of reddened, swollen flesh.

Ah! That accursed Dog Emperor!

In his mind, Shen He was giving the Dog Emperor a beating, pummeling him with fists and kicks.

Serves him right for being usurped!

Qi Zhuoyun leaned against the headboard, watching the child attentively inspect his wound, feeling quite pleased.

He playfully lifted the fabric of his clothing with his finger, teasing the child, "He He, you've soaked your brother's clothes with your tears. Why so many tears?"

Shen He: "..."

He turned his head, pretending not to hear, and hurriedly went out to call the young eunuch, "Where are brother's clothes? He needs to change!"

Qi Zhuoyun chuckled, watching as Shen He returned with a clean nightgown and handed it to him, "Brother, you change."

He looked at him intently, as if ready to care for him at a moment's notice.

Qi Zhuoyun handed him the wet clothes he had taken off, "Thank you, He He."

Shen He blushed and hurriedly took the clothes, handing them over to the young eunuch with his short little legs.

He thought to himself, since the male lead wants to play the weak card, he must appear vulnerable. He can't let others see him in this robust state.

Shen He decided to stay and care for the male lead today!

Shen He served Qi Zhuoyun tea and water. As he climbed onto a small couch to pour water from the teapot, Qi Zhuoyun listened to the noises from within, fearing the child might hurt himself.

He almost got out of bed to check on him.

Thankfully, in a short while, Shen He came trotting in with the water cup in hand and handed it over with a sweet smile, "Drink, brother!"

Qi Zhuoyun patted his head, finishing the water before returning the cup, "He He, you'll be attending the academy soon. You don't need to care for me. Have breakfast and then go with Young Master Liu, let Lianqiao and the others take you there."

Shen He shook his head, "I want to take care of you, brother. I won't go to the academy today!"

As he said this, he remembered his little cousin. If he wasn't attending school today, he needed to inform him.

Thus, the child put down the cup and dashed off in haste.

Qi Zhuoyun could only hear the fading, rapid pitter-patter of the child's footsteps as he disappeared into the distance.

Zhong Hong's apprentice entered with water for the crown prince to wash his face.

The expression on the prince's face turned indifferent once again, his tone also cooling, "That's enough, leave, and let no one else enter."

……

Over there, Shen He hurried back to his own side chamber in a flurry.

Liu Zheng was already awake, seeing Shen He, he curiously inquired, "Where have you been, He He?"

Taking another look at Shen He, he squatted down and asked, "Why have you been crying, He He?"

Feeling embarrassed, Shen He thought to himself, it's been quite a while, how can he still tell?

Trying to cover it up, he claimed, "I haven’t been crying, brother. The crown prince is ill. I won’t be attending the academy today. I want to look after him."

Turning to Lianqiao, he asked, "Lianqiao, can you please escort my brother to school?"

Lianqiao, both amused and puzzled, responded, "Sure, does the young master wish to have breakfast with your highness?"

Thinking it over, Shen He felt it would be improper to neglect his little cousin, especially while he was a guest.

So, he climbed onto his little stool and joined his cousin for breakfast.

Once Liu Zheng boarded the carriage, Shen He stood beside it, looking up and asking, "Brother, will you come over tonight?"

Young cousin Liu pondered for a moment, thinking that if the crown prince was sick, it might not be appropriate for him to continue staying overnight in the East Palace.

Thus, he replied, "I'll visit in a couple of days, perhaps after the crown prince recovers. Does that sound good?"

The little one nodded his head, waving as he said, "See you tomorrow, brother!"

With his cousin off to school, Shen He fetched two buns and once again sneaked back to the main hall.

If the male lead was feigning weakness as a strategy, wouldn’t that mean he had to appear weak and couldn't openly accept delicious food?

Shen He decided he must secretly deliver some food, ensuring he’s well-fed.

After all, the child was in a crucial stage of growth.

How could he possibly leave him hungry?

Clutching two buns, he sneaked into the hall, his behavior blatantly suspicious.

The guards at the entrance: "..."

Hearing the little footsteps, Qi Zhuoyun knew the child had arrived.

A smile was already forming on his face.

As expected, the child crawled in from under the curtain, ran to his bedside, handed him the two warm buns and whispered, "Eat quickly, brother."

Qi Zhuoyun accepted the child's kind gesture, "Have you eaten already, He He?"

Shen He nodded, indicating he had half a bowl of porridge and two buns.

With that thought, Shen He felt he might have taken too few.

At such a young age, he could eat two buns himself! A growing boy could easily devour three large bowls of rice!

As Shen He pondered whether he should sneak in a couple more buns later, he saw Zhong Hong's young apprentice enter.

The boy carried a tray of food: a bowl of porridge, a tier of crystal dumplings, a tier of small buns, and a bowl of aromatic wontons.

Shen He: "?"

Wait, what happened to the pretense of playing weak?

Why was so much breakfast delivered?